LA VERNE, CA — Trevor Andresen had a career-high 23 points and the University of La Verne men's basketball team got off to a hot start from beyond the arc against the visiting Hardin-Simmions Cowboys. 

But HSU surged ahead in the second half and took advantage of their chances at the line to edge the Leopards 101-92 Friday afternoon.

Stat Leaders

Andresen had a huge impact off the bench for the Leopards. In just nine minutes of work in the first half, the freshman rallied off 20 points with six three-pointers. Andresen finished the game with seven three-pointers. 

Jordan Allen had the best scoring performance of his career. The sophomore finished with 17 points going 5-7 from the floor and added five rebounds. Sinai Enoch had a solid all-around game. The freshman guard totaled eight points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. 

Segun Oyeku and Tevin McClain each added big games off the bench. Oyeku totaled 11 points off 4-5 shooting and McClain added 13 points and five rebounds.

The Leopards finished with a 12 total three-pointers, their highest total in two seasons. 

Joe Hoeup led Hardin-Simmons with a game-high 26 points and  Steven Quinn contributed 17 points. The Cowboys went 19-28 at the line in the second half.

How it Happened

The Leopards got off to a hot start going 5-6 from the field including a pair of three-pointers from Luke Edwards and another from Enoch to take a 15-14 lead six and a half minutes into the game. 

Andresen made an impact early knocking down a pair of three-pointers in the opening 10 minutes. His second came in transition after Seth Shaw found the Tucson native open in the corner to put La Verne back up 29-27. After a run by the Cowboys, Andresen got the Leopards to within three points of the HSU's lead knocking down a triple from the top of the key. Two possession later, the freshman cut La Verne's deficit to just one point after he grabbed the ball from half court and converted an acrobatic layup.

Andersen got the Leopards back on top after he knocked down back-to-back threes, the first from the corner and the second from the wing to put the Leopards up by four, forcing a Hardin-Simmons timeout.

With a minute left in the half, an and-one by McClain and Andresen's sixth three of the half put the Leopards up 57-50 at the break. La Verne finished the opening period with 11 baskets from beyond the arc.

The Leopards couldn't find the same rhythm in the second half with the Cowboys holding La Verne to just 35 points in the period.

The Cowboys took their first lead of the second half off a contested layup by Neal Chambliss to take a  72-71 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the game. HSU did its most of its damage at the line in the second period, getting to the charity stripe often to surge ahead. Allen got the Leopards back to within seven points with 2:47 left to play but La Verne would get no closer.

Season Impact

The Leopards drop to 1-8 overall. The Cowboys improve to 7-5 on the season.

Next Game

The Leopards will head east tomorrow evening to taking on NCAA Division I opponent California Baptist. Tip-off in Riverside is set for 7 p.m.